"Look-ups" for 166 Squadron RAF Bomber Command

Hello,

I'm looking for information on the crew of Edward T. Coles, lost on 16 November 1944 on a operation to Duren. I have a copy of The Bomber Command War Diaries by Middlebrook and Everitt, which states that they were one of three Lancasters lost on the Duren raid. According to a website which takes its information from Chorley's series, they were flying Lancaster PB648 and crashed "close to Allied forward lines". I have also seen this web page: http://home.cogeco.ca/~dswallow4/MissingColes.htm which has pictures of the crew.

My connection to the crew is through my Grandfather (Andrew S. Matthews), he was good friends with the Navigator on the crew, Ken Farrow. Here is a picture of my Grandfather and Ken together (Ken on the right): http://i.imgur.com/l8OI4p3.jpg. Here's a picture of Ted Coles, the Pilot, that my Grandfather took: http://i.imgur.com/4osVFZs.jpg

Any information would be much appreciated.

 

Nick,
If you want anything from the 166sqdn ORB for their last, and any previous ops, just let me know.

 

Hi Alan, thanks for the offer!

I believe they went missing on their 2nd operation (which would make it Coles' 3rd), so if you have those records that would be great. They should be around November 1944.

 

Nick K

Have done a search using the "Wings of War" book but regret there is nothing there that you have not already displayed in your postings.

The single paragraph on Page 122 starts "AS-B (PB648) took-off at 12;35 hours and nothing further was heard from them"

Sorry there's nothing new

Ron

 

Thanks for checking Ron!

 

Coles' plane crashed in the centre of Duren with its full bomb load. wreckage was strewn over a large area. One of the crew was recovered by the Americans and handed over to a British graves unit in Belgium. He (Sgt Leaman) is buried at Hotton cemetery. The remaining 6 members of the crew were also buried near the scene of the crash but subsequently re-interred by the British at Rheinburg cemetery. If you care to email me on mjc41uk@yahoo.co.uk I would be pleased to hear from you

 

Great info, thank you Barnsley! I've sent you an e-mail.

 

Hi There
my nan Peggy Barnes was the wife of Albert Edward Barnes 54095 from 166 Squadron who died on a mission to Brunswick in Lancaster. dv404 on 14/01/1944.

Would like to know as much information any one has about him and the missions and the plane.

Would love to hear from gails37 as he was my nans husband i am really interested to find out as much as possible about the above (him, the plane and the missions).

Tony

 

Hi i am tony. I am Alberts wifes grandson if you want to contact me.

 

Hello Tony
gails37 hasn't been on the forum since June 2013. I will send them a private message-if they still have the same e-mail address they may get a notification and come back to the thread.

Lesley

 

thank you for the reply.

does anybody know and could possibly tell me what missions Albert Edward Barnes actually did, i know what missions the plane done that he died in, but i need to know the missions he done personally.

i would be really be great full if i can get some information from people on here.

many thanks
tony

 

Here you are Tony;
Date Target Pilot

27.09.43 Hanover (S/Ldr Pape)
07.10.43 Stuttgart (S/Ldr Pape)
18.10.43 Hanover (S/Ldr Pape)
03.11.43 Dusseldorf (S/Ldr Pape)
22.11.43 Berlin (S/Ldr Pape)
23.11.43 Berlin (S/Ldr Pape-mission abandoned)
26.11.43 Berlin(S/Ldr Pape)
16.12.43 Berlin(S/Ldr Pape)
02.01.44 Berlin(W/Cdr Scragg)
14.01.44 Brunswick(WCdr Scragg-Failed to return)

if you email me on mjc41ukATyahoo.co.uk I may be able to help further.
Cheers
B

 

Thank you very much.

so are these the missions he flew on.

 

Wellington HE655, AS-D. Took off from Kirmington, 23.16hrs for ops to Dortmund.
Lost to a nightfighter and crashed Oirschot.
Sgt C.W.H. Westwood.
Sgt A. Benson.
Sgt H.W. Fields.
Sgt W.P Baxter.
Sgt T.W. Shadgett.

One of 3 166sqdn Wellingtons lost that night.
Alan.


I photographed the head stones of this CWGC cemetery in Eindhoven in 2012. All of them.

If you want the photos of all or just some of this crew then send me a PM with an email address and I'll send them to you.

In passing there are some 50 Australian buried there.

 

Hello Can you send me pictures off the crew Wellington HE655. Kees van de Loo C.loo1@chello.nl Oirschot history society.